Melanie Griffin
Melanie Griffin is a seasoned accounting professional with 15 years of experience, including 10 years specializing in real estate. She currently serves as Assistant Controller at CRCD Partners LLC in San Diego, California, where she was promoted from Senior Project Accountant within her first year. In her role, Melanie oversees the full lifecycle of real estate development projects, from pre-development and due diligence through construction and conversion to active assets. She specializes in affordable housing, HUD housing, and senior living projects, bringing precision and strategic insight to every financial decision.
Her daily responsibilities include managing multiple lenders and their requirements, preparing complex draw packets, ensuring TCAC (Tax Credit Allocation Committee) compliance, coordinating with equity investors for quarterly and monthly reporting, tracking funding sources, managing debt restructuring, and overseeing all financial aspects of construction projects. Melanie has designed comprehensive Excel workbooks with formula-driven systems that integrate with company databases and convert data to meet federal guidelines for low-income housing tax credits. Prior to joining CRCD Partners, she spent nearly three years in nonprofit real estate and four to five years managing active property accounting.
Throughout her career, Melanie has built a reputation for curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving. She actively engages in conversations across departments, asks critical questions, and ensures strong communication to keep projects on track. She has developed a niche for helping small companies streamline processes, address organizational challenges, and grow by breaking down departmental silos. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Business/Management, Melanie combines technical expertise, ethical rigor, and a holistic understanding of real estate finance to drive success for her teams and projects.
• CPA Candidate - State of California (2013)
• University of California, Santa Cruz - BBA, Accounting and Business/Management
• Saddleback College - AAB
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a persistent curiosity and a deep desire for knowledge. I consistently ask questions, take the time to understand the full lifecycle of projects, and actively engage in conversations to ensure I can contribute effectively and manage my responsibilities from start to finish.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
"The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my mentor, Paul Neisle, who was my controller during my first five years in apartment real estate. He was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain complex concepts thoroughly, often breaking them down step by step so I could truly understand the reasoning behind every decision. While I sometimes wanted just a quick answer, he never gave me shortcuts—he made sure I built a solid foundation and grasped the big picture. That mentorship taught me the value of strength in knowledge, the importance of being more than a ‘plug-and-play’ team member, and how to approach my work with confidence and competence. It shaped my own approach to leadership: I strive to ensure my team members are never weak links, equipped with the knowledge and understanding they need to excel independently.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
"My advice to young women entering this industry is to absorb as much as you can and never be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Too often, people hide what they don’t know out of fear, but real growth comes from curiosity and a willingness to learn. Embrace the process of asking, understanding, and gaining experience—because the only way to expand your knowledge and confidence is to actively pursue it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is not being included in key conversations. In accounting, your role touches the entire lifecycle of a project from every loan, grant, credit card expense, contract, or deposit so when information is siloed or departments handle things independently, it can leave you unaware of critical actions. Effective communication and being in the loop are essential, because understanding the full picture allows me to fulfill my responsibilities thoroughly and proactively. Staying informed about the details and the overall progress of a project is both a challenge and an opportunity to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and strong outcomes.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are ethics, integrity, and humility. As an accountant and a person of faith, maintaining strong moral principles is essential—you can’t succeed in this role without being trustworthy and ethical. I approach numbers objectively, focusing on accuracy and accountability rather than the monetary value behind them. At the same time, I believe in empowering others and celebrating their successes rather than comparing or resenting them. Supporting my colleagues, fostering collaboration, and maintaining a mindset of integrity and humility are central to how I live and work.